Golf ball target

ABSTRACT

A target device having a particular use in association with a golf driving range. The device includes a target, preferably shaped as a golf ball, having a series of target holes to receive a ball driven by a golfer. A trap or collector is located behind each target hole and a ball entering a hole is collected in the trap and conveyed to a collection area. Travel of the ball through the conveying system actuates a signal, such as a visual or audio alarm, to indicate for a predetermined time that a ball entered a target hole.

United States Patent [191 Klabacka GOLF BALL TARGET [75] Inventor:Robert Klabacka, Madison, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Diesel Truck Drivers Training School Inc., Sun Prairie,Wis.

[22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 456,231

[52] U.S. Cl... 273/182 R; 273/185 R; 273/102.2 R; I I 273/102.l F;273/105 R [51] Int. Cl. A63b 69/36; A63b 63/00 [58] Field of Search273/182, 176 FA, 176 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,229,382 1/1941 Irwin et al273/182 R 3,000,636 9/1961 Butler 273/176 A June .17, 1975 3,594,0067/1971 Clatt ..273/182R 3.708.173 1/1973 Hewson ..273/182R PrimaryExaminer-George J. Marlo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Quarles & BradyABSTRACT A target device having a particular use in association with agolf driving range. The device includes a target, preferably shaped as agolf ball, having a series of target holes to receive a ball driven by agolfer. A trap or collector is located behind each target hole and aball entering a hole is collected in the trap and conveyed to acollection area. Travel of the ball through the conveying systemactuates a signal, such as a visual or audio alarm, to indicate for apredetermined time that a ball entered a target hole.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures GOLF BALL TARGET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe conventional practice golf driving range includes one or morehitting areas or platforms from which golfers hit balls into a fairwayarea. The fairway area may contain yardage markers indicating theyardage from the hitting area, and in some cases, flagstaffs may beplaced in the fairway area to simulate greens to provide a target forhitting.

In addition to the practice driving range, other types of smallerpractice devices are frequently used by the golfer to increase hisproficiency. The conventional practice device includes a screen ortarpaulin which may have targets or pockets to receive the balls.Practice devices of this type are generally used indoors or inrestricted areas so that the screen or target is relatively close to thegolfer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a target device havingparticular use in association with a golf driving range. The targetdevice is located a substancial distance, perhaps in the range of 100 to150 yards from the hitting area, and includes a large target, which ispreferably spherical in shape and has the appearance of a golf ball. Thetarget is provided with one or more target holes to receive a balldriven by a golfer from the hitting area. Located from behind each ofthe target holes is a trap or collector which leads to a conveyingsystem, and a ball entering a trap through the target hole will beconveyed by the conveying system either to a collection area associatedwith the target or to a collection area located adjacent the hittingarea.

Travel of the ball through the conveying system operates a signalingdevice to provide either a visual or audio alarm to thereby indicatethat a ball has been received in a target hole.

In operation, the golfer will receive or purchase a bucket or containerof balls, each of which has identi cal markings, such as numbers orcolors, with the markings appearing on the golf balls used by one golferbeing distinct from those appearing on the golf balls of other golfers.If, when hit, one of the balls enters a target hole, it will passthrough the trap to the collection area and, in doing so, will actuatethe signaling device to thereby operate flashing lights and a horn tosignal that a ball entered a target hole. The attendant can thenretrieve the ball either from the collection area in the target or fromthe collection area in the pro shop to determine the golfer who made thetarget hit and that golfer would be awarded a monetary or merchandiseprize.

The present invention acts to increase the skill of the golfer by havinghim hit at a given target, and the golfers skill can result in an awardif a ball enters the target hole.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the followingdescription.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings illustrate the best modepresently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf driving range incorporating thetarget devices of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of a target device;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a target device with parts broken away insection;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the target showing the trapand conveying tube;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the arrangement of thelights; and

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a typical golfdriving range which incorporates the target devices 1 of the invention.The golf driving range will normally include a pro shop or dwelling 2,and have one or more driving or hitting areas 3 which can consist ofmats, platforms or merely designated areas of the ground. As shown inFIG. 1, the target devices 1 are located a substantial distance from thedriving areas 3, perhaps in the range of to yards. Any number of targetdevices 1 can be utilized and it is contemplated that they can belocated at different distances from the driving areas.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the target devices 1 includes aconcrete foundation 4 comprising a footing 5 and a column 6 whichextends upwardly from the footing to a position slightly above grade.Mounted on the column 6 is a hollow base 7 which is shaped in the formof a golf tee with the lower end of the base having a smaller diameterthan the upper end.

The target device 1 also includes a large target 8, which is mounted onthe upper end of the base 7. As shown in the drawings, the target isspherical and represents a golf ball, having surface indentations ordimples which represent the dimples appearing on a conventional golfball. The base 7 and spherical target 8 can be formed of sheet metal orfiber reinforced plastic and the base and target are provided withaccess openings 9 and 10, respectively.

While the base and the target are shown in the form of a golf tee andgolf ball, respectively, the particular shape of the base and target isnot critical to the invention and can take various forms.

The target 8 is provided with one or more target holes 11, which can allbe of the same size or can be of various sizes. Located behind each ofthe target holes, as shown if FIG. 4, is a generally funnel-shaped trapor collector 12 and the rear portion 13 of the trap 12 is shaped so thata ball entering a hole 11 will be deflected downwardly within the trapand will not be deflected outwardly back through the hole. The trap 13can be made of sheet metal or reinforced plastic, or can be made offlexible material, such as fabric.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the trap 12 defines an outlet 14which is connected to a conduit or pipe 15. The lower end of the conduit15 is connected to a return pipe 16 which extends beneath the grade andconnects the target device with the pro shop 2. The return pipe 16 canbe inclined downwardly so that any golf ball entering the pipe will bereturned by gravity to the pro shop. It is contemplated that in place ofthe gravity return other types of mechanical or pneumatic conveyors canbe employed to return the ball from the target device to the pro shop.

Alternately, the return pipe 16 can be eliminated and a collection boxor container (not shown) can be located in the lower end of the base 7with the lower end of the conduit 15 being connected to the box. In thiscase, any ball passing through the conduit 15 will be collected in thebox located in base 7. A separate conduit and collection area can beprovided for each of the target holes 11 or certain target holes can beconnected to a common conduit or collection area.

Positioned in the outlet 14 is a pivotable gate 17 and as the ball movesthrough the outlet it will pivot the gate upwardly as shown by thephantom lines in FIG.

4. A suitable switch 18 is mounted in a position to be actuated by thegate as it is pivoted upwardly and the switch will operate in the mannerhereinafter described to actuate a signaling device, such as a horn orlights, thereby indicating that a ball has entered one of the targetholes.

In addition to the target holes 11, the spherical target 8 is alsoprovided with a series of openings 19 which are enclosed by plastic ortransparent plates 20. An electric lamp 21 is located behind each of theopenings 19 and is engaged with a socket 22 carried by reinforcing beams23 that extend across the interior of spherical target 8.

FIG. 6 shows the electrical circuit in which lines 24 and 25 areconnected to a source of power and switch 18 is connected in series withthe lamp 21. A horn 26 is shown connected in parallel with lamp 21.Switch which is adapted to be closed by the golf ball, can be a timeswitch, as indicated diagramatically by the timing arrow, and is adaptedto open automatically after a predetermined time period.

In operation the golfer will be given or will purchase a bucket orcontainer of golf balls each of which will bear the same marking, suchas colors or other indicia which will designate the hitter. As anexample, the golf balls in the bucket purchased by one golfer may allbear the number 17, while the balls of the second bucket may all bearthe number 23.

Hitting from the target areas 3, the golfer will aim at one of thetarget devices 1 and if a ball enters one of the target holes 1 1 itwill pass through the trap 12 to the conduit 15, thereby pivoting thegate 17 and actuating the switch 18. Closing the switch 18 will energizethe lamps 21, as well as the horn 26 to provide a signal that a ball hashit a target hole. The ball will then pass through the conduit 15 andthe return pipe 16 to the pro shop 2 where the attendant will retrievethe ball to determine the hutter. Alternately, if a collection box isused in the base 7 of the target device, the attendant will retrieve theball from the collection box to determine the hitter.

Awards or prizes can be given to golfers who hit a ball into one of thetarget holes 11, and it is contemplated that the target holes can be ofvarious sizes, with a more expensive award being given for hitting asmaller sized hole. While each target hole 11 can be connected to aseparate collection area, the target holes of a similar size, whichrepresent the same award, could be connected to the same collectionarea.

It is contemplated that certain target holes, regardless of size, couldbe designated for special awards. and similarly, all target holesrepresenting the same award could be connected to a common collectionarea.

The present invention will tend to increase the skill of the golfer forhe will normally be aiming at a distinct target, as opposed to thenormal practice driving range in which the golfer may often just hit atthe fairway area without aiming at a particular target.

While the drawings illustrate a target device as associated with a golfdriving range, it is contemplated that the target device can be usedwith any type of ball or flying object.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

I claim:

1. A target device for receiving flying golf balls, comprising:

a hollow, spherical target having a plurality of target holes disposedin spaced apart relationship on the outer surface of said target, saidtarget holes adapted to receive a flying golf ball;

a plurality of traps within said target each communicating with one ofsaid target holes and having walls which converge downwardly from one ofsaid target holes toward the interior of said target so that a flyinggolf ball entering one of said target holes will be deflected downwardlywithin said trap;

a ball collection point connected to an outlet of each of said traps toreceive golf balls passing through said traps;

switch means mounted adjacent the outlet of each of said traps andactuated by a golf ball passing through the outlet; and

an electrical signal disposed within said target and actuated by theactuation of said switch means.

2. The target device of claim 1, wherein said target has a second holeon the outer surface thereof, said electrical signal including a lightlocated behind said second hole.

3. The target device of claim 1, and including timer means operablyconnected to said switch means for deactivating said switch means aftera predetermined time period to stop operation of said electrical signal.

1. A target device for receiving flying golf balls, comprising: ahollow, spherical target having a plurality of target holes disposed inspaced apart relationship on the outer surface of said target, saidtarget holes adapted to receive a flying golf ball; a plurality of trapswithin said target each communicating with one of said target holes andhaving walls which converge downwardly from one of said target holestoward the interior of said target so that a flying golf ball enteringone of said target holeS will be deflected downwardly within said trap;a ball collection point connected to an outlet of each of said traps toreceive golf balls passing through said traps; switch means mountedadjacent the outlet of each of said traps and actuated by a golf ballpassing through the outlet; and an electrical signal disposed withinsaid target and actuated by the actuation of said switch means.
 2. Thetarget device of claim 1, wherein said target has a second hole on theouter surface thereof, said electrical signal including a light locatedbehind said second hole.
 3. The target device of claim 1, and includingtimer means operably connected to said switch means for deactivatingsaid switch means after a predetermined time period to stop operation ofsaid electrical signal.